“We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of Ukraine. We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force”. This is according to a joint statement signed today by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some top EU leaders: Starmer (UK), Merz (Germany), Macron (France), Meloni (Italy), Tusk (Poland), Von der Leyen (EU Commission), Costa (European Council), Støre (Norway), Stubb (Finland), and Frederiksen (Denmark). “Russia’s stalling tactics have shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace. We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction. Therefore, we are clear that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position – before, during, and after any ceasefire”. The leaders went on to add: “We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defence industry, until Putin is ready to make peace. We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs”. The leaders will meet later this week in the European Council and in the Coalition of the Willing format “to discuss how to take this work forward and to further support Ukraine”.